brown hair algae?

NewObsession

NewObsession

AC Members
Aug 27, 2007
575
0
16
55
Is there such a thing as brown hair algae? I'm having an issue with it in my tank, especially after water changes. I have been cutting back on ferts and trying to find out what the imbalance is, but still struggling with it. It mostly builds up in the roots of my water lettuce. it can be rubbed off, but then bunches up on the substrate or collect in the vals and hygro. Thsi isn't the greatest picture, but one I happen to have that makes it easier than trying to explain.. suggestions?

DSCF1519.JPG
 
I have seen this in my 125 gal set up. Is this a new tank? I would see if you have any amonnia. If you have sand it may be silacates. My tank is almost done cycling and is going away on its own as amonnia is disapering.
 
Tank is probably about 3-4 months old. Everything was moved from a 10 gallon that I had had for 6 months before that. No sand, no ammonia (at least none that has ever shown up when I do test). I know there are silicates (from the glass) and diatoms that appear in newer tanks, but that is usually in the form of a brown haze to my understanding, not the hair/floss like stuff that I am seeing...
 
Amonnia and low co2 are the causes of thread/hair alge. If adding co2 are you using a drop checker with 4dkh solution? I had a mat of riccia once and this is what it looked like when it started.
 
CO2 could definitely be an issue. I use DIY with a drop checker. Drop checker is usually between green to yellow green, but had issues with a new set up and leaks so it was off for a couple of days. Previously, even with the CO2 I would have issues the first day or two after a water change. Figured it was too high a concentration of ferts. Used to be even worse but I quit dosing iron and Tropica plant food and that seemed to help a bit..
 
What I was really wanting to know though is if this is in fact brown hair algae...or some other type? I would imagine it would be easier to combat if I at least knew for sure what I was dealing with.
 
Did you ever find out what type of algae this is? I have the same thing and haven't had any luck identifying it or getting rid of it. My setup is fairly new about 7 weeks now. Have a Flourite substrate, so I don't think silicates are the problem. Even early on had low ammonia readings, & the levels have been at zero for 5 weeks now. Started the tank with just plants didn't add fish until week 6. Seems to be cycled well, nitrites and ammonia still read zero, after adding a few fish. Using DIY CO2 seem to have plenty of CO2 according to pH-KH charts and the fact that the small little plants I started with are now a jungle. The tank has become over-grown in just 7 weeks. I had a couple of types of algae early on and all of it has subsided except this stuff.
 
ttatummm said:
Did you ever find out what type of algae this is? I have the same thing and haven't had any luck identifying it or getting rid of it. My setup is fairly new about 7 weeks now. Have a Flourite substrate, so I don't think silicates are the problem. Even early on had low ammonia readings, & the levels have been at zero for 5 weeks now. Started the tank with just plants didn't add fish until week 6. Seems to be cycled well, nitrites and ammonia still read zero, after adding a few fish. Using DIY CO2 seem to have plenty of CO2 according to pH-KH charts and the fact that the small little plants I started with are now a jungle. The tank has become over-grown in just 7 weeks. I had a couple of types of algae early on and all of it has subsided except this stuff.
Click to expand...

Water change, decrease surface vegetation or Increase your water flow and phosphates! IF POSSIBLE.
I don't know the scientific name of this algae form, but in my experience it seems to be a form of string or hair algae covered in a slime or diatoms.
Manual removal and the steps above worked for me.
 
Fordtrannyman said:
Water change, decrease surface vegetation or Increase your water flow and phosphates! IF POSSIBLE.
I don't know the scientific name of this algae form, but in my experience it seems to be a form of string or hair algae covered in a slime or diatoms.
Manual removal and the steps above worked for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. I'll give your suggestions a try. It does seem to be slowing down a bit. I'm working on the manual removal, but bits of this stuff seems to get into everything, especially the hair grass.

It is time to do some trimming. Some of the plants are getting so tall that they are floating on the surface. It is amazing that they went from tiny little plants to an over grown jungle in less than 2 months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom